Ilima Kam Martinez

About the Artist

Ilima Kam Martinez is a cultural arts leader, kumu hula, and community organizer dedicated to preserving and uplifting Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. She is the Founder and President of ʻUmeke, a cultural organization based in Oceanside, California, where she leads innovative programming that blends traditional knowledge with contemporary community needs. Under her leadership, ʻUmeke has hosted numerous workshops, awarded scholarships to emerging cultural practitioners, and built partnerships across educational, arts, and civic sectors.

As Kumu Hula of Kūhai Hālau O ʻIlima Pā ʻŌlapa Kahiko, Ilima designs and teaches curricula to more than 100 diverse and intergenerational students, integrating hula, Hawaiian language, and cultural practices. Her choreographed performances and cultural events have reached broad audiences, strengthening cultural appreciation and connection.

Ilima is also the co-founder of the inaugural Southern California Asian and Pacific Islander Festival, which brought together 12,000 attendees and 20 performance groups in a powerful celebration of heritage and solidarity. Her collaborations span universities, libraries, museums, and grassroots organizations, where she curates programs on Hawaiian genealogy, traditional crafts, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, and cultural reclamation.

Ilima holds a B.A. in Indigenous Anthropology from California State University San Marcos and remains committed to creating inclusive, intergenerational spaces that center indigenous voices and spark transformative change through the arts.